Diurnal and seasonal variations of serum enzyme activity in cattle and sheep

In order to test the variation of enzyme activity in serum of cattle and sheep during the day, blood samples were taken at three hrs. interval from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The following enzymes were assayed: Aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT = GOT), alanine aminotransferase (AlAT = GPT), total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and a-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBD). The variation between animals contributed by far to the greatest part of the total variation in clinical healthy animals. The time-of-day-dependant variation was less than 3 %, except for alanine aminotransferase.During the first two weeks of spring pasture serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly raised in both cows and ewes, compared with serum levels of the same animals on indoor feeding. No such increase occurred in total lactate dehydrogenase.     

Serum enzyme changes in lambs with experimentally induced acute muscular dystrophy

An experiment was performed to study some serum enzyme changes taking place in artificially fed lambs made dystrophic on a skim milk ration supplemented with α-tocopherolextracted cod liver oil. In the course of two to three weeks the lambs showed highly increased serum values of aspartate- and alanine aminotransferase (AspAT = GOT and A1AT = GPT), total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine phosphokinase (GPK). The latter enzyme proved to be the most sensitive test of myopathies, with serum values above 1000 times the normal level. A high-grade hyaline skeletal muscle degeneration was confirmed by histology. Myocardial changes were also present.Contrary to expectations, electrophoretic separation of LDH isoenzymes in the serum of the dystrophic lambs did not reflect any increase of the prevalent muscular cathodic thermolabile fraction LDH₅. The use of a so-called LDH heat stability test as an aid in clinical diagnostic work, as previously suggested, therefore does not seem to be valid in this disease. The results are discussed.     

The effect of physiological parameters on serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in lambs

The effect of age, sex and growth rate on total serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and its isoenzymes was assessed in Suffolk X Halfbred lambs from 1.5 days to 10 weeks old. The total LDH activity was higher at 1.5 days than in older lambs and the percentage of LDH₁ tended to increase while LDH₄ and LDH₅ decreased with age from 2 weeks, indicating that the isoenzyme distribution was changing towards the adult pattern. In female lambs, the percentage of LDH₁ was higher than in male lambs at 1.5 days, but little importance was attached to this finding since the difference was not significant at 10 weeks. No clear relationships existed between the level of total LDH or its isoenzymes and daily liveweight gain.The age-related changes were considered to be of greater significance than those related to sex and growth rate when interpreting serum LDH levels in lambs.     

Serum enzyme activity of newborn calves, pigs and lambs

Serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT = GOT), alanine aminotransferase (AlAT = GPT), and total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) have been investigated in newborn calves, pigs, and lambs. In the two latter species the LDH isoenzyme distribution in serum was also studied. Blood samples were taken at frequent intervals from birth to 48–72 hrs. post partum.Calves and pigs were born with very low serum enzyme values, whereas lambs showed a picture more similar to what has been reported in human infants. In all species a marked temporary enzyme increase occurred during the first 24–48 hrs. This elevation was found not to be due to colostrum feeding, since a parallel increase was found in starved animals. Possible regulating mechanisms are discussed.The LDH isoenzyme pattern proved to be more stable than total LDH in the early post-natal period.The percentage isoenzyme distribution, however, showed characteristic differences from that found in adult animals of the same species.     

Heat stability of serum lactate dehydrogenase and its isoenzymes in young and adult cattle and sheep. Evaluation of a relative heat stability test and serum determination of alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase in diagnostic work

The heat stability of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) has been investigated in serum from young and adult cattle and sheep. The thermoresistance of the isoenzymes was determined by electrophoresis of serum samples preincubated at different temperatures. Marked differences were found in the percentage distribution of isoenzymes in serum from the two species as well as in the heat stability. LDH in serum from sheep was inactivated at a lower temperature than that in serum from cattle, and inactivation occurred at a lower temperature in young than in adult animals. The enzyme was in both species less tolerant to elevated temperatures than what is reported for human serum. Procedures worked out for a so-called relative heat stability test of LDH in human clinical diagnosis may therefore give misleading results if they were applied uncritically to sera from these animals.The LDH isoenzyme pattern of some main organs in calves and sheep indicates that a serum heat stability test may be useful in the diagnosis of skeletal muscle injuries in sheep. In cattle the tissue isoenzyme distribution is assumed to be too uniform to give information about specific organ lesions either by serum electrophoresis or by a heating technique.In contrast to what has been reported in man, serum levels of α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBD) in cattle and sheep, as earlier reported in swine, are found to be far better correlated to total LDH than to the most thermostable isoenzyme, LDH₁.     

A serum enzyme increasing effect of non-toxic herring meal fed to sheep

In a series of experiments it was demonstrated that highly increased activities of aspartate aminotransferase (= GOT), total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBD) occurred in serum of sheep on herring meal feeding. The alanine aminotransferase (A1AT = GPT) level remained unchanged. The enzyme increase was apparently not related to the liver toxic agent dimethylnitrosamine (DMNA) occasionally occurring in lethal doses in meals produced from raw materials preserved with excesses- of nitrite. Histological changes of the liver or other tissues were never detected in experimental animals killed at a stage with very high serum enzyme values. Diets equivalent in digestible crude protein consisting of vegetable as well as of animal protein sources other than fish meal, did not give rise to elevated serum enzyme values.Electrophoretic separation of the LDH isoenzymes in serum of herring meal-fed sheep showed an increased percentage of the LDH₁ fraction, which is predominant in liver, heart, and kidney. Determination of enzyme activities in various tissues resulted in a markedly higher concentration in livers from herring meal-fed animals than in sheep fed casein at an equal protein level. It is suggested that herring meal may have a special promoting effect on the de novo synthesis of the enzymes concerned.As a practical consequence of the experiments it must be emphasized that serum determinations of these enzymes for diagnostic purposes will give a false picture of the clinical condition of sheep fed even moderate amounts of herring meal.     

Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in the lungs of sheep with acute and chronic pneumonia

Total lactate dehydrogenase and the absolute and percentage levels of its isoenzymes were measured in lung lesions and macroscopically normal areas of lung from lambs with chronic proliferative exudative pneumonia and acute pasteurella pneumonia. Lung lesions had a higher total enzyme activity which was associated mainly with increases in the activity of the LDH₄ and LDH₅ isoenzymes, particularly in chronic pneumonia, and gave lung lesions a considerable potential for altering the serum isoenzyme distribution. Thus, the nature of any changes in the serum isoenzyme distribution will depend on whether the isoenzymes are released from abnormal or normal areas of lung. This appears to be the first report on lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in ovine pneumonia.     

Stability of some serum enzymes in sheep, cattle, and swine during storage at different temperatures

Owing to the increased use of serum enzyme determinations in veterinary diagnostic work, greater knowledge about the keeping qualities of different animal sera under various storing conditions seems desirable.The present paper deals with the stability of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT = GOT), alanine aminotransferase (A1AT = GPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and a-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBD) in cattle, sheep, and swine.Sera from 14—16 animals of each species were analysed daily for 5 days after storage at room temperature (22°C) and in the refrigerator (4°C). Samples kept in the deep-freezer (—20°C) were reanalysed once after 32—38 days.Significant differences of serum activity were found between individuals for all enzymes in the three species.Great variations were found in the stability of enzyme activities of different species.To summarize, it may be said that the changes of transferase activities were less pronounced under the different storing conditions than those of the dehydrogenases investigated. Pig serum in particular showed heavy losses of the latter enzymes already after 1 day, more pronounced at refrigerator than at room temperature.As a consequence of the results obtained, practical recommendations for analytical work on these enzymes are suggested.     

Isoenzymes of lactate dehydrogenase in swine. Stability during storage at different temperatures and by heat treatment

The isoenzymes of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum from normal pigs were studied after separation by agar gel electrophoresis with subsequent staining with a tetrazolium salt.Experiment 1. The stability of isoenzymes was investigated for 5 successive days after storage at room temperature (22°C), in the refrigerator (4°G), and once after storage for 32 days in the deep-freezer (—20°C). Greatest loss of activity was seen after storage in the refrigerator, where LDH₂ and LDH₃ lost most of its activity after 5 days. In LDH₄ and LDH₅ no loss had occurred at this time. Also at room temperature great losses were seen in LDH₂ and LDH₃. After storage in the deep-freezer an increase in LDH₃ activity was recorded.Experiment 2. Serum samples were kept in water baths for 30 min. at 50, 53, and 56°C. A simultaneous and increasing loss in activity of LDH₃, LDH₄, and LDH₅ was seen from 50° to 56°C. At 56° no activity was left in LDH₃, LDH₄, or LDH₅, and only about 15 % of the original activity was present in LDH₂. LDH₁ showed no loss at 56°, but all activity was lost at 65°.A close correlation was found between total lactate dehydrogenase and α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity in both experiments.     

Isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase in serum of lambs and ewes.

Electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels was used to identify isoenzymes of serum alkaline phosphatase in sheep. Skeletal isoenzyme predominated in the serum of lambs and liver, skeletal and intestinal isoenzymes were found in the serum of adult ewes. In r ewes (R-r-i blood group system) intestinal isoenzyme activity was 67 per cent of total serum activity; in R ewes intestinal activity was only 36 per cent of total activity. Relative activities of the three isoenzymes differed greatly within individual ewes and between individual ewes during pregnancy and lactation.     

Lactate dehydrogenase and its isoenzymes in the tissues and sera of clinically normal dogs

The total activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the percentage distribution of its isoenzymes in the tissues and sera of clinically normal adult dogs are presented. Total LDH activity was greatest in skeletal muscle followed by heart muscle, kidney, small intestinal mucosa, liver, lung, pancreas and bone. Each tissue had a unique isoenzyme pattern and the proportions of the isoenzymes in serum suggested that liver is the source of normal serum LDH. The tissue isoenzyme patterns were similar to those obtained by other authors in human beings, horses, cattle, sheep and cats although in liver, differences between ruminants and monogastric animals including dogs were evident. The data presented provide a basis for the interpretation of serum LDH isoenzyme patterns in canine disease.     

Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in the lungs of sheep with acute and chronic pneumonia

Total lactate dehydrogenase and the absolute and percentage levels of its isoenzymes were measured in lung lesions and macroscopically normal areas of lung from lambs with chronic proliferative exudative pneumonia and acute pasteurella pneumonia. Lung lesions had a higher total enzyme activity which was associated mainly with increases in the activity of the LDH4 and LDH5 isoenzymes, particularly in chronic pneumonia, and gave lung lesions a considerable potential for altering the serum isoenzyme distribution. Thus, the nature of any changes in the serum isoenzyme distribution will depend on whether the isoenzymes are released from abnormal or normal areas of lung. This appears to be the first report on lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in ovine pneumonia.     

绵羊组织器官LDH同工酶特异性研究

本研究利用不连续聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳法对绵羊的８种组织器官ＬＤＨ同工酶的分布及相对活性进行了分析测定。比较ＬＤＨ同工酶的酶谱特征。结果表明，绵羊的ＬＤＨ同工酶分布特征不同于其它动物，其相对活性有显著差异。骨骼肌中ＬＤＨ５活性比ＬＤＨ１强，Ｍ亚基比例大于Ｈ亚基；肝脏和心脏中ＬＤＨ１的活性最强。     

Effects of exercise on serum amino-transferase activity and pyridoxal phosphate saturation in Thoroughbred racehorses

Aminotransferase activities were measured in the serum of two- to three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies and colts during a four week period of peak training for flat racing. Aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT, EC 2.6.1.1), mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (m-AspAT) and alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT, EC 2.6.1.2) activities in serum were measured and the relative proportions of apoenzyme and holoenzyme were determined. The aminotransferase activities were increased only slightly immediately following exercise. This small and immediate post exercise increase in activity did not vary greatly over the period of peak training. Measured in the presence of exogenous pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, mean enzyme activities (iu/litre at 30 degrees C) before exercise were: AspAT, 291; m-AspAT, 13; AlaAT, 18. After exercise they were: AspAT, 317; m-AspAT, 16; AlaAT, 23. Nearly all of the AspAT activity was present in the holoenzyme form (94 per cent holoenzyme) indicating excellent vitamin B6 status in these animals. Paradoxically, the AlaAT in serum from the same highly trained Thoroughbred horses was poorly saturated with pyridoxal phosphate, with nearly half of the AlaAT in most horses present in the inactive apoenzyme form (61 per cent that of holoenzyme). It is critical therefore, that exogenous pyridoxal phosphate be included in aminotransferase assays to determine the amounts of enzyme release into the peripheral circulation.     

Serological investigation of granulocytic Ehrlichia infection in sheep in Norway

Serum samples of 749 sheep from 75 sheep flocks in Norway, i.e. 361 lambs (6 to 7 months old) and 388 adults (>1.5 year), were analysed for antibodies to Ehrlichia equi. Ten animals from each flock were examined. Seropositive animals were found along the coast of southern Norway from Vestfold to Sør-Trøndelag (as far north as 63°38''N). Seropositive sheep were not found in southeast, east or northern Norway. Thirty-two flocks were seropositive, although tick-borne fever had only been diagnosed earlier in half of these. In 78% of the seropositive flocks, more than 80% of the sheep were seropositive. A total of 35.7 % and 36.3 % of lambs and adults were found seropositive, respectively. However, the overall seroprevalence among animals that had been grazing on Ixodes pastures were 0.80 for the lambs and 0.84 for the adults. Mean antibody titres (± SD) (log₁₀) in seropositive lambs and adults were 2.59 (± 0.449) and 2.70 (± 0.481), respectively. No significant differences in either seroprevalence or mean antibody titre between sheep of different ages were obtained in this study. Based on antibodies 94% of sheep flocks on Ixodes pastures were infected with a granulocytic Ehrlichia infection. The association between seropositive flocks and Ixodes infested pasture shows a very high degree of agreement (p < 0.00001). The present study indicates that granulocytic Ehrlichia infection in sheep is underdiagnosed in Norway.     

The vitamin E-deficiency syndrome in pigs. II. Investigations on serum and tissue enzyme activity

In four experiments performed to study the pathology of vitamin E-deficiency in pigs (Nafstad & Tollersrud 1970) serum enzyme determinations were carried out in order to obtain some information about the development of the deficiency syndrome.The enzymes determined were aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT = GOT), alanine aminotransferase (AlAT = GPT), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICD), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Blood samples were taken every second week during the experiments, which lasted for three to four months each and included a total number of 112 animals. At death or slaughter organs were removed in two experiments for determination of tissue homogenate transferase activity.A good correlation was shown to exist between the levels of serum enzyme activity and the frequency of pathological changes found at necropsy. Vitamin E-supplemented pigs showed enzyme values within normal ranges, whereas animals supplemented with selenium or amino acids and non-supplemented lots showed increased levels. To a certain extent differential diagnoses between the organs most affected could also be made on the basis of the enzyme values, though the complex nature of the deficiency syndrome in some cases rendered this more hypothetical.Gastric ulcers gave no elevation of serum enzyme activity.An inverse correlation was found between transferase activity in serum and tissue homogenates. Vitamin E-deficient pigs with high serum values yielded lower tissue enzyme activity than animals in the corresponding supplemented lots.Pigs fed the highest dietary protein levels showed the highest tissue transferase activity. This was most marked for liver homogenates.     

Experimentally induced Faciola hepatica infection in white-tailed deer. I. Clinicopathological and parasitological features.

Six white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and six sheep were inoculated with metacercariae of Fasciola hepatica. Two animals of each species were given 100, 500 or 2500 metacercariae. Clinicopathological features of these infections were determined by analyses of blood samples collected each week from inoculated deer and sheep as well as from two noninoculated animals of each species. One animal in each inoculated group was killed and examined at six weeks postinoculation and the remainder at 15 weeks postinoculation. Compared with the values obtained from noninoculated controls, eosinophilia, hyperproteinemia and hyperglobulinemia occured in inoculated deer. There were no other significant changes in hematological values or in serum aspartate aminotransferase levels. Marked leukocytosis and eosinophilia, with hyperproteinemia, hyperglobulinemia, hypoalbuminemia, elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase levels and mild macrocytic normochromic anemia characterized the infection in lambs. Although approximately 29% of the inoculum was recovered from the hepatic parenchyma of the sheep, F. hepatica was found in only one of six inoculated deer. A patent infection was established in this deer and constitutes the second report of mature F. hepatica in this host.     

Effects of condensed tannin from Acacia mearnsii on sheep infected naturally with gastrointestinal helminthes

The effect of tannins on endoparasite control in hair sheep was investigated using 20 entire lambs of the Santa Inês breed. At the beginning of the experiment these animals were 6-months old and weighed 22.5kg+/-4.7. The treatments used were (10 animals each): GT (animals receiving 18g of Acácia negra containing 18% of condensed tannin/animal/week) and GC (animals not receiving tannin). The experiment lasted 84 days, with animals kept on an Andropogon gayanus pasture. Faeces were collected weekly, with weighing and blood collection carried out fortnightly. At slaughter, the adult worms were harvested for identification and counting. Although the GT animals weighed more than the GC lambs at slaughter, these differences were not significant (P>0.05). In general, the values for haemoglobin, hematocrit, total protein, urea, phosphorus and calcium in the serum were within normal levels and no significant differences between groups were observed. For faecal egg count (FEC), lower values were observed throughout the experiment in the group receiving tannin, but these differences were only significant in the eighth week. There was a lower output of eggs by regression for GT compared with GC (P<0.05). The species identified, in decreasing order of worm count, were: Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Haemonchus contortus, Oesophagostomum columbianum, Cooperia sp., Strongyloides papillosus, Trichuris globulosa and Moniezia expansa. The total worm count and number of each species of worm were lower for GT compared with GC for T. colubriformis and Cooperia sp. (P<0.05). Condensed tannin (CT) from A. negra had an antiparasitic effect, thereby representing an alternative for worm control in sheep.     

Response of Corriedale and Crioula Lanada Sheep to Artificial Primary Infection with Haemonchus Contortus

Clinical, parasitological and biochemical parameters were evaluated in Corriedale and Crioula Lanada sheep after a single experimental infection with Haemonchus contortus. Ten 4-month-old worm-free lambs, of each breed, were infected with 200 L₃ H. contortus per kg live weight and four uninfected animals of each breed were used as controls. Every week, the animals were weighed and blood and faecal samples were collected for measurement of packed cell volume (PCV), total serum protein (TSP) and albumin (ALB), and the number of eggs per gram of faeces (EPG), respectively. Twelve weeks after infection, the animals were slaughtered. The worm burden was determined and samples of the abomasal mucosa were processed for determination of the number of eosinophils, mast cells and globule leukocytes. No significant differences in PCV, TSP, ALB, parasite burden or the cell populations of the abomasal mucosa were observed between breeds, but Crioula lambs had a lower EPG count. The comparison of the infected groups with their respective controls revealed significant alterations in PCV, TSP and ALB in the Corriedale lambs and in PCV, TSP, ALB and the density of eosinophils and mast cells in the Crioula lambs.     

Body weight and blood parameters of Old Norse Sheep grazing coastal heathland

Abstract

This study describes development in body weight and blood parameters of Old Norse Sheep grazing coastal heathland throughout the year without supplementary feeding. A group of approximately 80 ewes were observed for five years. The average body weight in October was 23.0 kg for lambs and 31.9 kg for ewes two years and older. The growth rate of lambs was 150–200 g/day during the first four months from birth but decreased to 51 g/day from August to October. The autumn weight increased the first five years of life. Ewes displayed weight loss and low levels of serum protein during winter, indicating moderate undernutrition. The weight loss was positively related to age and initial weight. The levels of vitamin B₁₂ were higher than normally found in sheep on cultivated pasture. The serum levels of Ca, Mg and Cu were within the reference values, whereas the levels of inorganic P was slightly below the reference values.